Task #23: A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60

[novelteathoughts]

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm honestly hoping to find like a fantasy or sci-fi story with a 60+ female protagonist who is fully human/naturally aged. Like I want basically.... granny goes on an epic journey?"

Someone recommended A Hat Full of Sky on a blog for this task. I'm trying to figure out how old the hag/character is but I've never read it.

[novelteathoughts]

Robert wrote: "There are a lot more options if you consider Fantasy or Science Fictions - lots of ancient vampires and immortal beings. I'll be reading Ann Leckie's [book:Ancillary Sword|23402633..."

Is she also the same character in the first book? Since that's the second book in the series.

[Yrinsyde]

Woman at 1000 Degrees is an Icelandic novel translated into English with a protagonist over 60 ... if anyone wants to double dip! This was mentioned on an Around the World group I'm part of.

[Marja]

Does The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy work for this task? She's over 60, right? I've read The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry but I don't remember exactly how old they are.

[Charlene]

Angela wrote: "Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey"

Wonderful! This book has been on my TBR pile for a while.

[Robert]

novelteathoughts wrote: "Robert wrote: "There are a lot more options if you consider Fantasy or Science Fictions - lots of ancient vampires and immortal beings. I'll be reading Ann Leckie's [book:Ancillary..."

Yes, it's the same character: Breq.

[novelteathoughts]

Robert wrote: "novelteathoughts wrote: "Robert wrote: "There are a lot more options if you consider Fantasy or Science Fictions - lots of ancient vampires and immortal beings. I'll be reading [author:Ann Leckie|3..."

Cool. I've been meaning to pick that one up. Maybe I'll do that. Thanks!

[Candace]

I'm on this task now and reading Like a Mule Bringing Ice Cream to the Sun. I've been waiting to read this book :)

[Rachel]

Has anyone read The Good Neighbor? There's a character who is in her 80s (I think), but I'm not sure if she counts as a protagonist.

[willaful]

Carolyn Wanatee wrote: "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney"

Such a good book! I listened to the audiobook, which was very well done.

[willaful]

Elle wrote: "Me too! I've had And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie on my TBR list for quite some time. I'll be interested to see what others find/suggest for this task though."

Perhaps this isn't what you meant, but it sounds like you were planning to read this for the challenge? It's not a Miss Marple book.

[Kristi]

Rebecca wrote: "Could anyone clarify if Remnant Population works? I've seen it on several lists, and while the description mentions a lot of events I would associate with 60+, it also mentions 40 year..."

It definitely works! The main character is a woman in her 70s.

[Marie]

Rebecca wrote: "Could anyone clarify if Remnant Population works?"

This sounds like a great SF pick as well. I already started reading The Lady Astronaut of Mars, but this went on my to-read list for later.

[John]

True Grit The antagonist is a young girl in the beginning and 62 at the end. Also counts for western and classic of genre fiction!

[John]

True Grit was great! The female protagonist is a young girl in the beginning and 62 at the end of the book. It would also count as a classic of genre fiction AND a western. Three challenges in one!

[Ella]

willaful wrote: "Carolyn Wanatee wrote: "Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney"

Such a good book! I listened to the audiobook, which was very well done."

I literally just picked up a scratch-n-dent copy of this book for $2 US b/c I saw she is 82 & went -- READ HARDER!

[willaful]

She's one of the most awesome 82 year old characters you're likely to find. :-)

[Barbara]

Elizabeth wrote: "I'm honestly hoping to find like a fantasy or sci-fi story with a 60+ female protagonist who is fully human/naturally aged. Like I want basically.... granny goes on an epic journey?"

Raven Stratagem has a fully human protagonist (at least as far as I can tell 1/4 of the way through the book) who is in her 70s.

[Britany]

Finished by Taylor Jenkins Reid -- 4 Stars

Loved this one-- need to add more by this author, any recs?

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Jane]

Our souls at night by Kent Haruf would be a good one - also for #15 - shame I've already read it!

[The Voracious Bibliophile]

Does anyone know if Our Souls at Night would count? They just made it into a Netflix film starring Jane Fonda so I'm assuming the female protagonist has to be over 60.

[Amanda]

I'm thinking about this one: - has anyone read it?

[Beth]

Amanda wrote: "I'm thinking about this one: - has anyone read it?"

Amanda, I have not, but that sounds like an amazing read! I may have to add it to my ever growing to read pile.

[Greta]

Just came across this in the New York Times 100 Notable Books of 2017 list:
The Dark Flood Rises by Margaret Drabble. Protagonist is a 70 year old woman. Drabble is a wonderful author, so this one goes on my list for #23.

[Veronica]

While reading Winter, the second installment in Ali Smith's Seasonal Quartet, I realized it could count for this task. Sophia is one of the two protagonists and it's stated that she was born in 1946. Since the book takes place in 2016-17, that puts her at 70-71. I was going to, and may still, read Olive Kitteridge for this task, but I'll be able to cross it off my list shortly anyway!

[Ann]

I'm guessing this Protagonists Over 60 list has already been mentioned, but thought I'd mention it again.

[Kate]

as mentioned by Angela, I'm going to be reading Elizabeth is Missing. Can't wait!

[April]

I just finished The Wife by Meg Wolitzer for this one. I enjoyed the book - I feel like if you a quick reader this one could count for the one-sitting book as well, although I stretched it out over a couple of days.

[Melynda]

Monica wrote: "Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen seems perfect for this one. It's part of a series that I've been reading off and on for the last couple of decades and may not work well as a stand ..."

Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen would totally fit! I enjoyed it, maybe not quite as much as if Miles were the main character, but I love that world.

[Erin]

Does anyone know how old Annie Darling is in Carolyn Hart’s Death on Demand books, specifically the later books? The series is 30 years old, and the protag was a business owner in the first one, so I’m assuming she’s pushing 60 at least...

I’m trying to no-buy for this challenge, but it’s hard for a couple of the categories.

[Erin]

Caitlyn wrote: "Terry Pratchett's Witches!! I hadn't even thought of them as an option. Such a good time to reread Witches Abroad or Lords and Ladies!"

I LOVE the Witches books! I wonder if I could cheat and re-read one... I've read them all. I only have a couple of Moist von Lipwigs left.

[Wellington]

I have read Aunty Lee's Delights by Ovidia Yu for this challenge. I loved it. Aunty Lee is so unassuming, but underneath is super savvy.

[Marie]

Erin wrote: "I’m trying to no-buy for this challenge, but it’s hard for a couple of the categories."

Riah posted earlier that The Lady Astronaut of Mars is available for free on tor.com: link. If you like SF, it's a great option.

[Deb]

I had read Aunty Lee's Delights when it first came out and had hoped there would be more of her. Thank you for reminding me of her. I am now reading her second book (Aunty Lee's Deadly Speicals) for this task. Thank you again, Dana!

[Kristin]

Chickadee wrote: "I'm wondering if Anna Pigeon qualifies..."

Barr (herself 65) says Anna was 37 in Track of the Cat (published in 93 not 03) and she meant for Anna to age with her, but the publishers wanted her to slow Anna's aging down. So this might be an up to you moment, unless you can find something more absolute.

[Megan]

I chose Oldest Living Confederate Widow Tells All for this.

[Pamela]

This looks like it would work https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1...

[Jenn]

I'm choosing Turn of Mind by Alice LaPlante for this one. It's a mystery featuring an Alzheimer's patient in the role of detective. I've read the first few chapters and it's great so far.

[Kristin]

Oh, I cannot recommend Emily, Alone by Stewart O’Nan enough.

[Sam]

I was just listening to a 99% Invisible interview with author Scott McCloud and he mentioned a new comic that would fit this prompt: Bingo Love. This might be the one for me!

For double dippers, it would also count for a non Marvel/DC comic, a comic written/illustrated by POC, and possibly a one sitting book depending on your speed.

[Allie]

I read The Body in the Library and really enjoyed it, though I wish Miss Marple had been more of a central character. It also counts towards a classic of genre fiction.

[Sonia]

I think The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox would work for this task. I'm just reading it for my book club and realized that it will fulfill this challenge too. Esme is the 77 year old grand aunt of Iris, who is being released from a psychiatric hospital after 61 years.

[Robin]

Probably rereading “Remnant Population” by Elizabeth Moon. The protagonist’s age is not given, but she’s a grandmother with a daughter who’s a professional (if I am remembering correctly) so that should put her in the general range.

[Olivia]

I recommend Madame Verona Comes Down the Hill which most definitely fits the category, and I really enjoyed it. A woman decides it is time to leave the isolated home she made with her husband, who passed away, and make her final trip down the hill.
Also great for dog lovers! And at 150 ish pages could be #15 a one-sitting book.

[Parker]

For this challenge, I read Our Souls at Night. This quiet novel also fulfilled challenges 1 and 15 for me!

[Andrea]

I just started Witches of Lychford by Paul Cornell and was happy to learn that one of the main characters, Judith Mawson, is 71 years old. This was already on my TBR so I was happy to learn it also fits a challenge category.

[Amy J.]

I tried googling "books with elderly, female protagonists" and the Blog I got was stupid, in that it gave examples of female characters in their 30s!!!

But there was a useful comment by an author (Heather Hill), which stated that her second book I Hate That You Bloody Left Me had three female protagonists over 60. AND the book is currently free through my Kindle Unlimited subscription. So that's the book I'm going with!

[Carolina]

I was asking around for suggestions and one colleague suggested Three Things About Elsie by Joanna Cannon. She said it's really good. Or Elizabeth Is Missing by Emma Healey.

[Cendaquenta]

A Year of Marvellous Ways is what I'm probably going to read for this - the protagonist (or possibly co-protagonist?) is a woman entering her 90s.

There's also The Woman Next Door which was on the Baileys Prize longlist last year and focuses on two feuding neighbours, both of whom are elderly ladies. (The blurb doesn't say how old but a review mentioned that at least one is in her 80s.)

And of course Three Things About Elsie is a great fit, though personally I thought it wasn't as good as Ms. Cannon's previous book.

As for a fantasy classic - Beren and Lúthien. Lúthien is an elf who's a good couple thousand years old.

[Cendaquenta]

Also several stories in Jackalope Wives And Other Stories feature Grandma Harken, who's a tough-as-nails witch of the Wild West, very much in the vein of Pratchett's Granny Weatherwax.